Popular Abington Park to Close Sunday

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SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP -- A popular park in Lackawanna County will close for sewer line construction this weekend, only days after many students in our area are let out of school for summer vacation.

South Abington Township officials said as a way to apologize to people who love the park, they'll be fixing it up while the work is going on.

First graders from South Abington Elementary could hardly contain their excitement for the impending last day of school, they took a break from class Wednesday at neighboring South Abington Park.

But just as their freedom begins, the popular park near Clarks Summit will close for the summer months.

"This park is great for me because, like I said, we can walk here and the kids have a great time in it. It being closed for the summer is going to be really hard," said Dawn Deriso of South Abington Township.

Deriso brings her four children to the park throughout the summer for pick-up baseball games or just to blow off steam. She said this summer might seem longer for her without the park.

The township has plans to replace a sewer line that runs straight through the middle of the park, they had to wait until school was out to start the project. The park will be closed at least until August.

"When they have to do some improvements, you know, you can't say anything about it. It is for the community, making the place better," said Kanakam Sudhakaran of Clarks Summit.

Township officials promise that when the park re-opens towards the beginning of next school year, you will see some improvements. Like on the basketball court, since the sewer line project will go right through it, the black top will be replaced and there will be new hoops too.

Crews will also work on the soccer and softball fields, and fix up pathways leading to the playground equipment.

A walking trail will stay open this summer. But, you wont be able to access it from the park.

"We walk here as often as we can, maybe three or four times a week. It's a very comfortable place to walk," said Joe Divanna of Clarks Summit.

"When this opens up again, it's going to be flooded, you're not going to be able to find a parking spot, because everyone misses it," added Deriso.